I blog about my jewelry inspirations. Readers will find that various elements of nature are my inspirations. Of course, I include jewelry making tips. This blog also includes some of my favorite Etsy shops, bead shops and jewelry customers.

Friday, February 26, 2016

I am participating in Bead Peeps 2nd Annual Swap'n Hop. The reveal date is May 15. I am paired with Marcy Lamberson, a glass artist who loves making people smile through her whimsical beads and sculptures. She is also a glass teacher too who teaches private lessons in her studio in Atlanta and group lessons at studios around the United States.

Her art work is gorgeous. Just look at this sweet pearlized pale rose colored spirit bear. She uses dichroic glass to make her "sky" shimmer and a silvered reflective glass to make her "mountains" reflect light and bring out the metallics. I recognized right away that many of her pieces are animal fetish beads and sculptures because my brother who has spent a lot of time in the southwest has been collecting them for years and I have given him a number of fetishes for Christmas over the years. A fetish is defined as an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment of a potent spirit or as having magical potency.

Marcy has lived in Wyoming and Colorado before settling in Atlanta. This gave her the opportunity to be immersed in the culture and art of the area. The influence of the Southwest is very evident in her fetish sculpture pieces. She mades bears which are considered "protectors”. This is an example of the influence of the Zuni Native American animal fetish. Her buffalos remind me of the beautiful animals that I saw in Yellowstone. The buffalo is associated with strength and emotional courage and is the harbinger of snow in the winter.

In addition to making sculptures she also makes beads that are small sculptures. "Lila" the Spirit Fish is an example of one of her gorgeous beads/sculptures that is a fetish. As you may know, water animals are a sign of cleansing, freedom and mobility. They help us to bring out the freedom of playfulness. The also aid in removing hidden thoughts and actions. Lila is a lovely soft coral color. She has reflective glass on her tail and fins that catches the light and makes her shimmer. This bead has a vertical hole 1/16 and is about .75" tall.

I can't wait to see the jewelry that she makes from what I sent her. It is challenging to have to send her items for this swap. What do you send someone who can make her own beautiful art beads? She told me uses mostly copper so I sent her some of my handmade copper clasps and a copper focal that I made. I included a few brass and sterling silver clasps that I made for her. She likes aqua, blue, green purple, pinky coral and neutral shades. I went with some green and aqua beads.

I suggest that you visit Marcy's Etsy shop to look at more of her work. She also sells on facebook from time to time. Stop by my blog on May 15 to see what I make from the goodies she sends me. I know I can't wait to see what Marcy comes up with!

Monday, February 22, 2016

Sarajo Spurgeon Wentling of Sj Designs Jewelry notified beaders of her husband's February "Honey Do List" challenge. It's one that anyone could play along with! He's taken one of his photos and pulled a color palette from it. I decided to join in the fun. I had 3 bracelets in mind for this. Of course, my plans always exceed my time. I only finished 2 of the bracelets.

The first is a unique, one of a kind green and orange Celtic circle bracelet. I embossed and patinated celtic circle component with orange and green. This boho bracelet has pretty orange Czech glass beads mixed with yellows and greens to add more pops of color. I handmade the clasp from brass. I used emerald green Irish waxed linen thread to unit the pieces. This is a multi strand bracelet with a natural brass chain added to it.

This is an Irish bracelet made with Saint Patrick's Day in mind. Celtic art is ornamental, avoiding straight lines and only occasionally using symmetry, without the imitation of nature. Many other cultures use a similar geometric pattern. It is available for purchase HERE.

My second bracelet is a pretty lotus bracelet that has a large brass cuff with inspirational words "Seek Beautiful Moments" handmade by artist Erin Prais-Hintz. It also has yellow, orange, red lotus flower on it. I added some red, orange Czech glass and yellow beads to it. It has interesting brass beads and rust Irish waxed linen thread. The rust Irish waxed linen thread gives it a bohemian beach look. This word jewelry is unique and is perfect for a size 7 wrist and a boho look. It is also available for purchase HERE.A special thanks goes to our hostess Sarajo Wentling . Grab a beverage and visit the other participants to see what they created. Sarajo Wentling (hostess)

Thursday, February 18, 2016

This is a gilded copper alloy statue dating to the 18th century of a standing Buddha.

We're All Ears February Challenge for February is to create a pair of earrings inspired by this ancient Standing Buddha statue. The Metropolitan Museum of Art features this piece online. They have a function there called Artwork of the Day. A random piece of art is showcased to enjoy every day. This was the artwork on Wednesday, February 3rd.According to the MET: "This work represents the Kandyan-period style of Buddha imagery at its best. The Buddha's physique is robust and the full face does not display the softness of features seen in lesser works of the period. The auspicious marks (lakshana) seen so prominently on the gilded seated Buddha displayed nearby appear here as well, and the left arm is now lowered, a convention that persisted throughout the later Kandyan period."

Since I have been practicing yoga for a number of years and even have a yoga jewelry section of jewelry in my BayMoonDesign online store this statue really spoke to me. I noticed the tiny turquoise pops of color on the top and bottom of the statue as well as in the folds of the robe. I also identified the lotus flower on the top of the Buddha's head. The lotus has spiritual symbolism amongst many cultures. It is one of the most delicate and beautiful flowers. Although lotus grows in muddy water, it grows beautifully and brings a smile on anyone's face who sees it. The Lotus has long been associated with purity, rebirth and beauty. I knew I wanted to use the lotus in my earrings. Buddha is the subject of the statue. My knowledge of Buddha is primarily from my practice of yoga. Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni, or simply the Buddha, was a sage on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. Yoga and Buddhism are sister traditions which evolved in the same spiritual culture of ancient India. They use many of the same terms and follow many of the same principles and practices. For this reason, folks in the West are apt to regard Yoga and Buddhism as more or less the same. Those who study Buddhism may find so much similarity in Yoga that they will see a strong Buddhist influence on Yoga. Those who study Yoga may find so much similarity in Buddhism that they will see a strong yogic influence on Buddhism.

Combining Buddha with the lotus seemed a no brainer to me. I selected a bronze seated Buddha that I have used in my jewelry before. For the lotus a decided to make a petal from a sheet of copper. After making a pattern for the leaf, I traced 2 of them on a sheet of copper. I then cut them out, filed the rough spots out, and tumbled them. I used Tiffany Green Swellegant patina and applied Renaissance wax. The final step was polishing. Putting the pieces together was a bit of a challenge. I had to figure out how to get Buddha to lay flat. I used a tiny turquoise bead to add to the pop of color in the earrings.

I am thrilled with how they turned out. They are available for purchase HERE. I hope a yogi gives these earrings a good home! They are definitely a one of a kind pair of earrings.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Vogue CoverSimultaneous Dress next to the Simultaneous Carby Sonia DelaunayIllustrated by George Lepape from January 1925

The February Art Bead Scene Challenge features the January 1925 Vogue magazine cover "Simultaneous Dress next to the Simultaneous Car" This illustration is an example of style of Cubist painting which used bright color to bring movement, light and musical qualities to artwork.

I was drawn to the compass in the illustration and made the component from a natural brass compass by Vintaj. I used white Renaissance wax and a sealant to add white color to the brass. I then mounted it onto a piece of filigree.

Next I pulled out 3 blue ceramic beads by Mary Harding to bring out the blue in the illustration. The 2 ceramic beads are next to the compass on each side and the last one is used as the clasp. Additional blue is added with a few blue square sodalite beads. To bring in the orange I added 2 different kinds of orange glass beads. I also added white beads to echo the white in the compass. Black Irish waxed linen thread is used to attach all of the pieces. The compass bracelet is available for purchase HERE.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Valentine's Day gives you the perfect excuse to pull out your pink and red pieces. I don’t know about you, but I love the way a pop of pink or red looks with an outfit . They help to create a romantic color scheme.

Grab a soothing cup of your favorite hot beverage a shop for Valentine's Day this weekend in the comfort of your own home online. My Bay Moon Design shop is loaded with goodies that are perfect for the occasion.